You deleted an important photo or document on Xiaomi Redmi, and now you can't find a basket to recover a file? This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi smartphone users — unlike computers where the basket is always in plain sight, in MIUI its location is not obvious, and sometimes it is completely hidden. In this article, we will analyze exactly where the basket is stored on Xiaomi Redmi, how to get there through standard applications and what to do if the files are lost without the possibility of recovery.
It’s important to understand that on Android devices (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other models), there is no single “basket” for all types of files. Instead, each system service – Gallery, Files, Google Photos – has its own folder for temporary storage of deleted data, we will show you how to find each of them, and also tell you about the hidden MIUI mechanism that automatically cleans the basket in 30 days (this is critical to know if you want to save old files).
Why Xiaomi Redmi doesn’t have a basket in its usual form
On Windows or macOS, the Recycle Bin is a single system folder that contains all deleted files. On Xiaomi (as on other Android smartphones), it is different:
- 📱 There is no global shopping cart – each type of file (photos, videos, documents) is stored in its own “basket” inside the corresponding application.
- 🗑️ Autocleaning — MIUI Defaults to delete files from the Recycle Bin after 30 days (in some versions – after 15 days).
- 🔍 Hidden folders – some system “baskets” (for example, for screenshots) do not appear in the menu, they need to be searched manually.
Also, on Redmi with MIUI 12/13/14, the cart can be hidden because of space saving or system optimization settings, and if you don't find it in the gallery, it doesn't always mean that files are deleted forever. Most of the time, they're just moved to another storage.
Where to look for a basket in the Xiaomi Redmi Gallery
Most people look for the basket in the Gallery, which is logical, because it's a place where they store photos and videos.
- Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
- Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-right.
- In the drop-down menu, select Recycle Bin (or Remote in some versions of MIUI).
If there is no basket item:
- 🔄 Check if sync with Mi Cloud is disabled – without it, the basket may not display.
- 📁 Try to update the Gallery through Google Play (sometimes bugs disappear after the update).
- 🔍 Use an in-app search – enter a “basket” or “remote” request».
The Gallery Recycle Bin stores files for up to 30 days (some firmware 15) and then deletes them without recovery through standard means. To return a photo or video, tap on the file → Restore.
Open the Gallery appendix
Press three lines (☰) top-up
Select "Baskbasket" or "Remote"
Check the shelf life (30 days)
Recover the necessary files-->
Recycle Bin in the Files app: where deleted documents are stored
For documents, archives, APKs and other files (not photos/video), MIUI has a separate basket inside the standard File Manager to find it:
- Open the Files app (folder icon).
- In the lower menu, select the Category (or File Types) tab.
- Scroll down and tap on the basket.
If the basket is not on the menu:
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → Warehouse → Bag and turn on the option to Show the basket.
- 📂 Check the.trash folder in the root directory through any file manager (e.g. Solid Explorer).
- ⚠️ Make sure you don’t use Guest Mode – the cart can be turned off.
Unlike the Gallery, the Recycle Bin in Files is often cleaned automatically when space is scarce. If you delete an important document, restore it as quickly as possible!
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To increase the storage life of files in the Recycle Bin, go to Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin and select the maximum period (up to 60 days on some firmware).
Hidden cart in Google Photos: how to recover photos from the cloud
If you use Google Photos for backup, deleted photos can be stored in the cloud basket, which works independently of the shopping cart in the standard Xiaomi Gallery and has its own rules:
- 🌐 Files are stored for 60 days (instead of 30 days) MIUI).
- ☁️ Recycle bin syncs between devices (deletion on phone) = scattering).
- 🔒 You need a Google account to access.
To recover photos from Google Photos:
- Open the Google Photos app.
- Slip on the profile avatar. → Basket.
- Select files and click Restore.
⚠️ If you deleted photos from Google Photos more than 60 days ago, you can only restore them through specialized services (for example, DiskDigger or Recuva), but the chances are minimal.
| Type of file | Where to find a basket | Storage period |
|---|---|---|
| Photo/video (Gallery) | gallery → ☰ → Basket | 15-30 days |
| Documents/APK | Files → Categories → Recycle Bin | 30 days (or until the site is cleared) |
| Photo (Google Photo) | Google Photos → Profile → Cart | 60 days |
| Screenshots | Gallery → Albums → Screenshots → Basket | 7-15 days |
What to do if the cart is empty or the files are gone forever
If you don't find files in the recycle bin, it doesn't always mean they're permanently deleted.
- Check backups: 📱 In Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Account. → Cloud. → Backup copies. ☁️ On Google Drive: Disk → Recycle Bin (stores files for 30 days).
- Use Recovery Programs to Recover: 🛠️ DiskDigger (Scanning Internal Memory). 🔍 Recuva (working through PC, requires root access).
Check the hidden folders:
/storage/emulated/0/.trash
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache⚠️ Warning: If you have already written new files after deleting important data, the chances of recovery drop dramatically.
Can I recover files after resetting settings?
How to turn off cart cleaner on Xiaomi Redmi
By default, MIUI cleans the cart automatically, but you can change that.
- Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
- Slip on the Recycle Bin (or Deleted Files).
- Select basket settings.
- Turn off the Auto Clean option or set a maximum shelf life.
On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 12), this item may be called Recycle Bin Management. If you don't have an option, your version of MIUI doesn't support manual tuning, and the basket will be forced to clear after 30 days.
💡 Tip: To avoid losing important files, set up automatic backup in Mi Cloud or Google Photos. Even if you delete a file from your phone, a copy of it will remain in the cloud.
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Disabling the auto-cleaning cart does not guarantee the safety of files forever – they can still be deleted if a critical memory deficit or reset settings.
Frequent mistakes when searching for a cart on Xiaomi Redmi
Many users make the same mistakes when they try to find a shopping cart, and here are the most common ones:
- 🔍 Searching for a basket in the application menu – it is not there, it is hidden inside the Gallery or Files.
- 🗑️ Tangled with the garbage basket Android – the system folder.trash does not appear without root rights.
- ⏳ Wait too long – the Recycle Bin cleans automatically and after 30 days, files disappear forever.
- 📱 Do not update applications – in older versions of Gallery or Files, the shopping cart may not work.
Another common mistake is trying to find a basket through Windows Explorer when connecting your phone to a PC. On Xiaomi, the basket does not appear as a separate folder in the box. MTP-It can only be seen through specialized applications (e.g, FX File Explorer with Hidden Files enabled).